National Zoo Asks Public to Vote to Name Panda Cub

WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Zoo is asking the public to help name its female giant panda cub by voting for one of five Mandarin Chinese names.

The zoo opened voting Tuesday on Election Day online at Smithsonian.com. The winning name will be revealed Dec. 1 at a naming ceremony when the cub is 100 days old, following Chinese tradition.

The names are Bao Bao, which means precious or treasure; Ling Hua, which means darling or delicate flower; Long Yun, which is a symbol of luck for panda cooperation between the U.S. and China; Mulan, which was the name of a legendary Chinese warrior woman from the 5th century that means magnolia flower; and Zhen Bao, which means treasure or valuable.

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